(Salt Lake City, UT) – Each month, the Utah Department of
Health’s (UDOH) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program serves an
average of 66,000 clients, including moms, babies, and children up to age five.
This month, the WIC program announced the results of a participant survey that
shows 71% percent feel the services they receive are “excellent.”
More than a quarter (27%) rated the services
as “good.”
WIC launched in Utah in 1972 and focused primarily on
providing supplemental, nutritious food.
Today, WIC does that through vouchers used at grocery stores. WIC staff
also offer nutrition education and counseling to low-income families, referrals
to health care and social services, breastfeeding classes and breast pumps for
nursing moms, and information on the dangers of smoking. Staff at local WIC
clinics across the state regularly educate clients about proper nutrition, and
work to help them better understand how to use their food vouchers.
The survey found that 97.1% of participants were aware of
the breastfeeding classes. As well, 91.5% understood that peer counselors were
available through WIC to support
breastfeeding moms. Peer counselors are breastfeeding mothers who were
on WIC and were successful with breastfeeding, and who now share their
expertise with other WIC moms. A separate, more recent report showed that 76%
of mothers enrolled in WIC initiated breastfeeding statewide.
“Of course we’re thrilled with the survey results,” said WIC
Manager Chris Furner, “but we’re most pleased with the fact that the program is
helping to make those families’ lives better. The fact that overall
satisfaction among WIC participants is as high as it is a testament to the
great work that the 250 local WIC staff are doing across the state.”
The survey also asked clients what health changes their
families have made since enrolling in the program. Seventy-one percent
indicated eating more fruits and vegetables.
More than half (53%) reported eating more whole grain foods. Forty-one percent
said they drink less soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, 30% said they are more
physically active, and 31% say they now eat more low-fat food.
“Our WIC family members are leading healthy lives,” said Dr.
Shaheen Hossain, lead author of the research report and Manager of the Data
Resources Program. The survey results also show WIC participants are learning
about nutrition and applying that information to make positive changes in their
food choices as well as in their lifestyles.
“They are not only eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains, they are also spending more time eating as a family,” Hossain
added. “Parents with healthy lifestyles
tend to teach and support healthy habits in their children.” The nutritional education component provided
by WIC appears to play a prominent role in promoting more healthful food
choices.
In an effort to save money and provide services to more
families, Utah WIC staff lobbied the federal government in 2010 to allow
clients to purchase store brand foods instead of pricier name brands. The
change was made, and since then a vast majority (84%) of respondents have
indicated their satisfaction with the store brands now available.
“When our clients are happy, we’re happy,” said Furner. “But
we also know there is always room for improvement. For example, nearly one in
four clients said they “sometimes” or “never” buy all of the foods available on
their vouchers, which means families are missing out on important nutrients.” Furner adds that WIC staff will contact
enrollees to help them understand the benefits of the healthy food packages and
teach them how to use WIC foods in their meal planning.
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The mission of the
Utah Department of Health is to protect the public's health through preventing
avoidable illness, injury, disability and premature death, assuring access to affordable, quality
health care, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
